Rob Stewart

Role: Filmmaker, underwater photographer, shark conservationist, director Born: 1979, Toronto, Canada Died: February 3, 2017, Islamorada, Florida (diving accident) First appearance: 2015 (Wetpixel coverage of Revolution)

Biography

Rob Stewart (1979–2017) was a Canadian filmmaker, underwater photographer, and shark conservationist who dedicated his career to changing public perception of sharks and advancing ocean conservation.

Stewart grew up in Toronto and developed an early passion for the ocean. He became a professional underwater photographer and filmmaker whose work combined stunning wildlife imagery with urgent conservation messaging.

His breakthrough film Sharkwater (released 2007) took him years to produce and drew on his deep experience diving with sharks worldwide. The film exposed the global shark fin trade, revealed the cruel and wasteful nature of the industry, and presented sharks as the sentient, non-threatening creatures they are rather than the monsters of public imagination. Sharkwater received 40 international awards and is credited with sparking a worldwide movement to protect sharks and reverse the public’s fear-based attitudes toward them. (^[1])

His follow-up documentary Revolution (2012, released online 2015) broadened his focus to global environmental collapse. As the film’s press release described it, Stewart discovered “there’s more in jeopardy than sharks” and embarked on “a life-threatening adventure through 4 years and 15 countries into the greatest battle ever waged.” The film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival and won ten awards, including the Audience Award for Best Documentary at the Atlantic Film Festival, Most Popular Environmental Film at the Vancouver International Film Festival, and the Social Justice Award at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival. Wetpixel covered its online release in April 2015. (^[2])

At the time of his death, Stewart was actively filming Sharkwater: Extinction, a sequel focused on the estimated 80 million sharks killed per year that are unaccounted for by scientists. (^[3])

Death

On February 3, 2017, Stewart went missing during a dive off Islamorada, Florida, near the Queen of Nassau wreck, while filming Sharkwater: Extinction. He was 37 years old. After an intensive search, his body was found by an ROV close to the wreck late on Friday afternoon. (^[4])

Wetpixel’s Adam Hanlon wrote: “Rob, 37, was an ocean activist, filmmaker and shark conservationist who set out to change the way the world thinks about sharks.”

Legacy

Stewart’s death galvanized continued support for his unfinished work. Lush Cosmetics re-released their “shark fin” soap in honor of World Ocean’s Day in June 2017, donating 100% of all proceeds to help complete Sharkwater: Extinction. The soap contained seaweed, fine sea salt, and lime oil. Lush hoped the product would bring awareness to the over 100 million sharks killed annually. (^[5])

In February 2017, Wetpixel published “A Wall of Sharks” — a community tribute photo gallery assembling shark imagery from photographers around the world, including Adam Hanlon, Alex Mustard, Abi Smigel Mullens, and Eric Cheng, honoring Stewart’s life and mission. (^[6])

Stewart’s own words, widely quoted in the Wetpixel tributes:

“When you’re underwater and you see the thing you’ve been taught your whole life to fear. And it doesn’t want to hurt you. And it’s the most beautiful thing you’ve ever seen. And your whole world changes.”

Timeline

• 1979: Born in Toronto, Canada
• 2007: Sharkwater released; receives 40 international awards; credited with launching global shark conservation movement
• 2012: Revolution completed; premieres at Toronto International Film Festival
• 2015-04: Revolution released online; Wetpixel covers the release (^[7])
• 2016–2017: Filming Sharkwater: Extinction in Florida
• 2017-02-03: Disappears during dive near Queen of Nassau wreck, Islamorada, FL; body recovered by ROV (^[8])
• 2017-02-20: Wetpixel publishes community shark photography tribute (^[9])
• 2017-06-14: Lush Cosmetics shark fin soap, 100% of proceeds to Sharkwater: Extinction (^[10])

References

• ^[11] — editorial (Adam Hanlon)
• ^[12] — editorial (Abi Smigel Mullens)
• ^[13] — editorial
• ^[14] — editorial (Abi Smigel Mullens)